CLIMBING PLANTS. 



375 



soil is very injurious. The annual species require 

 a rich soil, heing generally rapid growers and 

 gross feeders. The situation should he a. sunny 

 one, and sheltered from wind as much as pos- 

 sible. Copious waterings should he given in dry 

 weather. Some light Pea-sticks or open treUis-worls; 

 should he provided for them to climh upon. The 

 perennial species are weU adapted for permanently 

 covering waUs or similar situations, more especially 

 the evergreen kinds. During severe weather mats 

 should be nailed over them, or any other covering 

 which may he at hand; a little attention in this 

 respect for a short time often preventing them from 

 being permanently injured or killed outright. 



The following list is not by any means an exhaus- 

 tive one, but affords a selection of the more showy 

 and useful species. 



Akebia quinata. — -An elegant twining plant, 

 with palmately divided leaves of three or five 

 stalked leaflets. The flowers are deep purple, and 

 borne , in short axillary racemes in the spring. It 

 is hardy in the milder parts of England. It is a 

 native of China and Japan, and was introduced by 

 Fortune in 1845 fi-om Chusan. It is delightfully 

 fragrant. It is readily propagated by cuttings from 

 the stem or roots, and succeeds best when planted 

 against a sunny wall. 



Berberidopsis corallina. — A very ornamen- 

 tal climbing shrub, with oblong spiny leaves, some- 

 what resembling those of a Berberis. The flowers 

 are of a rich crimson colour, and home in drooping 

 racemes at the ends of the branches. It is certainly 

 one of the most effective wall plants when in flower, 

 and quite hardy in some places, while in others pro- 

 tection must be given. 



Clianthus puniceus. — A large, very showy 

 perennial climber, known in its native country of 

 New Zealand as the Parrot's-biU, in allusion to the 

 shape of the flowers before expaliding. It has pin- 

 nate leaves, with numerous small leaflets, and droop- 

 ing racemes of bright crimson flowers, which, when 

 expanded, measure three inches from the tip of the 

 keel to that of the standard, which is sharply bent 

 back. It grows to a large size against a sunny wall, 

 its handsome flowers being produced in profusion. 

 During severe weather it needs some protection, 

 though in some localities it is quite hardy. Its 

 name indicates " Flower of Glory," and is extremely 

 appropriate. 



Cobsea scandens. — Sow in a gentle hot-bed 

 in the spring, and plant out at the end of May 

 or beginning of June. It is of rapid growth, and 

 soon attains a considerable size. The variety alio- 



marginata, with variegated foliage, is very handsome, 

 and requires similar treatment. It must, however, 

 be propagated by cuttings, as it does not come 

 variegated from seeds. 



Qucumis myrio carpus. — The Thousand- 

 fruited or Gooseberry Gourd, sometimes called C. 

 grosmlarioides. It hears small green fruit, some- 

 what resembling a Gooseberry, hence the name. It 

 requires similar treatment to the next [Cucurbita 

 Fepo). 



Cucurbita Pepo. — The ornamental Gourds 

 are exceedingly handsome decorative plants when 

 covered with fruit in the autumn. A rich soil and 

 warm situation ai'e necessary. They should be 

 sown in heat, so as to get good plants to place out- 

 side at the end of May. There are numerous orna- 

 mental varieties, which are variously marked with 

 yellow and green, and some of them covered with 

 warts. The fruits are useful for room decoration 

 when frost has Mlled the plants. 



Grammato carpus volubilis.^ — A pretty, 

 slender, climbing annual, belonging to the same 

 fa mil y as the Loasa, and requiring similar treat- 

 ment. The leaves are pinnatifid, with three to five 

 lobes; the flowers an inch in diameter, and deep 

 yellow in colour. The seeds should be sown in 

 light rich soil, in a sunny position, where it grows 

 to a good size, and flowers for a considerable period, 

 making a very pretty object. 



Holboellia latifolia {Staimtonia latifoUa). — A 

 large evergreen climber, with temate or palmately 

 divided leaves of a bright green tint. The flowers 

 are pale green, and borne in axillary clusters. It 

 flowers in the spring, and the male flowers are said 

 to be produced a little later than the females, and to 

 diffuse a delicious perfume in the evening. It is 

 best suited for the warmer parts of the country, and 

 should be protected with mats during severe weather. 



Ipomoea purpurea. — The Convolvulus major 

 of gardens, also known as Fharbitis hispida, and 

 too familiar to require description. The flowers 

 open in the morning, and present a combination of 

 carmine and violet or purple, some varieties being 

 pure white and others of a rosy tint. The slender 

 stems twine round and round their supports, hence 

 slender poles or similar upright supports are the 

 most suitable. The seeds should be sown in April, 

 in good soil. Flowers are produced all the summer. 



Lapageria rosea. — ^A superb green-house 

 climber, already described (see Gkeen-house Plants) 

 but which grows and blooms exceedingly well out of 



